The University of Sindh Vice-Chancellor Dr Mazharul Haq Siddiqui has said that deterioration in water quality due to contamination of lakes, rivers and groundwater aquifers has led to increased waterborne diseases and other health hazards.

He said at the inaugural session of a workshop on "Urban Water Demand Management' organised by the university's Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry (NCEAC) on Wednesday that Pakistan needed to formulate policies on a war-footing to balance water withdrawals by recharging resources.